Effort begins to create Des Glaises Cultural District

A state-certified cultural district in southeast Avoyelles could become a reality in the near future, providing one more weapon in the parish’s arsenal for attracting more tourists.

The Bayou Des Glaises Cultural District received resolutions of support from the Avoyelles Police Jury and the Town of Simmesport this past week. The Village of Moreauville is expected to follow suit at a special meeting later this month.

Aloysia Ducote, of Hamburg, is spearheading the drive to create the district. She is interested in historic preservation, supporting the arts and displaying the parish’s unique culture as ways to encourage tourism and economic development.

HISTORIC SITES

There are several historic buildings, structures and sites within the boundaries of the proposed cultural district.

Included in those sites is Yellow Bayou Park, the site of the first battle of what is usually referred to as the “ill-fated Red River Campaign of 1864,” which brought the fury of the Civil War to Avoyelles Parish.

Ducote said Sarto Iron Bridge and Adam Ponthieu Grocery/Big Bend P.O. Museum are on the National Register of Historic Places. Other NRH sites include Avoyelles High, the Bordelonville Floodgates, Thomas Lemoine House in Moreauville, Mayfield House in Hamburg and her own home, Calliham Plantation -- which she calls Calico -- in Hamburg.

There are some buildings in the district that are being presented by preservationists for inclusion on the state’s “endangered list” as historic buildings in danger of being lost.

One of those is the Amet-Lougarre Home in Moreauville, built around 1856. Although not on the Historic Register, the house is still valued as one of the parish’s last remaining Antebellum structures.

Another Antebellum site drawing attention is Ducote’s “General Merchandise Commissary” on her property.

“The building was built in the 1830s or 1840s as a general commissary for Calliham Plantation,” Ducote said.

She said she would like to turn the site into a museum, “but that is a long-range plan.”

The store has also turned up often on Facebook sites promoting it for inclusion on the “endangered list.”

This kind of effort is too late for another historic building that had to be demolished -- the old hospital in Moreauville. Ducote also owned that building, and had hoped to restore it someday. However, time and the cost of such repairs won out over hopes and dreams.

The hospital was built around the turn of the 20th Century and had been vacant for about 40 years before it was demolished several years ago.

There are also ancient Indian mounds in the proposed district.

CULTURAL EVENTS

In addition to historic sites, the state requires entertainment venues and local cultural events to be listed in the application.

In the Des Glaises area, those include community centers in Bordelonville, Moreauville and Simmesport; Mardi Gras activities in Simmesport; the Farm Festival and Farmers Market in Moreauville; Homemade Cake Festival in Bordelonville; and the Farming and Fishing Museum in Simmesport. Simmesport has also talked about reviving its River Festival and is planning to start a Joe Simon Music Festival to add to the cultural events in that area.

Ducote said Avoyelles is well situated for this type of district because it is in the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, the Louisiana Water Heritage Trail and Atchafalaya Basin Program. It also has several Louisiana Scenic By-Ways going through it.

CREATE NONPROFIT

Once all of the governing boards have expressed support for the district, the state will consider the application “and say ‘Yea,’ ‘Nay’ or ‘We need more information,’” she said.

If the district is approved, Ducote said the best thing would be to create a nonprofit organization that would promote the district and coordinate various events there.
“It would be an opportunity for tourism and economic development,” she said. “It would provide tax credits for property owners who restore historic buildings and sites.

“It also helps to say we have a state-certified cultural district when you apply for grants related to historic preservation, culture, recreation and tourism projects,” she added.

Ducote emphasized that the district, itself, would not be a nonprofit organization.

“We would like to see things like art classes for kids and events focusing on the arts, history and culture of the area,” she said.

Organizations such as the Avoyelles Arts Council would be invited and encouraged to hold events, including events where local artists would be able to sell their works. If the area was a designated cultural area, artists would not have to charge sales tax on their original art works.

“Nobody at the state will say how long this will take,” Ducote said, “but we have a good start.”